With the loot

Here's the birthday girl with her presents from Gramma & Papa Pittman. The boxes arrived at our house the night before her birthday- it was perfect! Her other grandparents were able to be with us- she is a precious and blessed little girl!

Katie turns 4

Katie turned 4 on October 11. Anna and Mikey and went to the bazaar and bought a party dress and shoes for her. I should have known that I needed to find a dress that cost more than 2 dollars. After about an hour, the front of the dress started shredding. Then, at her party, the skirt ripped from the top of the dress. So, we found another party dress...... Next time, I'll have to look for the $5 dresses- maybe it will last for a few more wearings!

All Dressed Up

Last week we celebrated a local holiday. Here are the kids all dressed up, and they are showing off the designs we made on their hands with henna. For this holiday, you dress up in new clothes (including all the accessories!) and visit all your friends to wish them happy holidays. The kids had a great time.

Happy Birthday Mikey!

Mikey wanted to go swimming for his 6th birthday and was surprised at the pool by the arrival of friends!

An ice cream treat for his birthday.

The Elephants!

Have you ever been patted on the head by an elephant?

Riding the elephants was quite an adventure. It is no ride around the ring- they take you up and down hills around the elephant camp. It was a very bumpy ride!

Fun at the bazaar

The girls got their nails painted. Here's Anna's with red hearts and Katie's with white ones.

A panda panda pancake on a stick!

Anna enjoying some local food.

Night on the Town

Here we are at a traditional Thai meal/ dance night. There was lots of yummy food and we sat on the floor.

Some pretty girls enjoying their meal!

Daddy was the bravest and at the end of the show joined others to learn how to dance!

More vacation pictures...

Here is Michael holding a macaw after we saw an animal show at the zoo.

The girls at the guesthouse garden.

Isn't this a great place to get a Thai massage! It was a bamboo hut overlooking a lake with mountains in the background. One hour cost a little over three dollars and the Thai massage is great! They use their whole body to work your muscles and give you a good stretch too.

Here's dad and the kids swimming in the lake at the rain.

Vacation days

Well, we are having a fun despite sickness (thankfully we are all better!) Our face masks are an indication that we are trying not to share our germs with others!
We are staying in a lovely guesthouse right in the middle of the city. The owners have done a great job of making it a respite from the city busyness with gardens and outdoor eating. The kids love the fishpond. So far, we have enjoyed the zoo, swimming at a big pool, shopping at the night bazaar, lots of Thai food, and a trip to a park/ lake nearer the mountains. The kids and Scott swam there in the rain. (this is the rainy season!) Here's Anna at the pool- she is loving it and gaining confidence!



Feeding an elephant at the zoo.

On our way!

We are on vacation now and here are some of our pictures in transit. We spent a couple of hours at a beautiful nature park.

Michael loved chasing the chipmunks! (which is what he is doing above) He didn't catch one- but he did try!

It was very hot. We had been warmed about the heat- but still I wasn't ready for the humidity. We were drenched. Here is Katie- a little warm.

All I want for Christmas.....

It finally fell out! Last night she said," Please tell the fairy I am waiting and waiting for her." The fairy had forgotten to take the tooth and leave some money for several nights in a row....

She's g!rowing up!

Though she has already lost her bottom 2 teeth, there's nothing like losing the top teeth! Here she has a snagletooth- Anna bumped the second tooth with a spoon while eating yogurt for breakfast it is barely hanging on!

Let the fun begin

Well, our internet connection is slow enough that I am having trouble uploading a picture. Kind of a bummer since that is the point of setting up this blog..... Hopefully, it is a temporary set-back and you will be viewing a lovely picture of the kids and their piggy banks. They painted them and are now eagerly saving for something special. It will be interesting to see what "something special" is but at least now their coins won't get lost or spent on gum or ice cream immediately. We have soft serve ice cream sellers on our street so that is a favorite these hot summer days.
The good news is that we are about to leave the country for vacation. Hopefully, that means lots of great pictures and a fast internet connection!

Well, it worked and here they are! Hopefully more to come...